Nintendo’s new Switch 1 update is getting things ready for Switch 2

The archetypal Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite.

With conscionable implicit a period to spell earlier the Nintendo Switch 2 merchandise day connected June 5th, Nintendo has released a Switch 1 update that volition assistance hole things for the caller console’s arrival. The V20.0.0 update for the archetypal Switch adds a clump of caller features that spell on with the Switch 2, similar Home paper buttons for the Virtual Game Card and GameShare features that were announced earlier this month, and a caller strategy transportation diagnostic that tin store your information successful the unreality until you’re acceptable to enactment it connected a Switch 2 — conscionable marque definite you work the instructions intimately earlier trying it.

You won’t beryllium capable to usage the GameShare feature yet, arsenic sharing tin lone commencement from a Switch 2 strategy implicit section wireless connections — trying to bash it betwixt 2 Switch 1 systems won’t work.

You tin cheque retired the caller Virtual Game Cards that cod integer bundle and DLC for you to “load” and “eject” betwixt 2 antithetic systems, and lend games to others successful your Nintendo Account household group. If you lend a crippled to idiosyncratic else, past you tin propulsion it backmost portion they’re online adjacent if they’re presently playing, but if they spell offline without returning it oregon coming backmost online, you’ll request to hold until the extremity of the two-week lending play for it to beryllium returned to your room automatically.

Nintendo’s Virtual Game Card Guide explains each of the ins and outs of the caller lending system, similar however each Switch tin lone beryllium connected to 1 different Switch astatine a time, however to negociate your crippled cards from the web, and however to fell (or unhide) definite cards.

To usage integer games crossed much than conscionable 2 systems oregon without those restrictions, Nintendo is present relying connected the Online License Settings, which are besides being added to your Switch 1 successful this update. If it’s turned on, it volition let the idiosyncratic to play immoderate of their digitally purchased games and DLC arsenic agelong arsenic they’re connected to the internet, without relying connected virtual crippled cards.

But if you’ve already decided to upgrade, past your archetypal halt mightiness beryllium the caller enactment for “System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2” nether the System paper successful System Settings. While it tin beryllium utilized for a section system-to-system transportation erstwhile your caller console arrives, there’s besides an enactment to upload strategy transportation information to the unreality now, wherever it volition beryllium acceptable to download to a Switch 2 without requiring entree to your aged system.

While that mightiness beryllium bully for idiosyncratic passing their Switch 1 disconnected to idiosyncratic else, the downside is that it volition mill reset your Switch 1, truthful it’s amended to hold if possible, and it volition lone beryllium stored for a twelvemonth if not downloaded. Another wrinkle is that it’s imaginable to acceptable up a Switch 2 unreality transfer, past cancel it and bring your information backmost to a Switch 1. However, as Nintendo’s strategy transportation FAQ explains, portion it doesn’t person to beryllium the aforesaid Switch 1 you started with, if it started connected a Switch OLED, you volition lone beryllium capable to cancel and reload your information connected different Switch OLED.